RPGs (role-playing games) have gone from strength to strength in recent years. In fact, there are an estimated 400 million RPG gamers worldwide today, thanks to top-tier titles like Baldur’s Gate and the Witcher series. Many of those players are serious gamers, requiring serious machinery, and they are increasingly turning to gaming laptops ahead of desktop gaming PCs. Thankfully, the market is there to serve them.
Gaming laptops have become undeniably better in recent years, with superior performance, cooling systems, battery life, and other elements to match the best offerings of desktop PCs. Whether you are a seasoned RPG gamer or a novice looking to find your perfect RPG character and get going, a gaming laptop is a significant step to really throw yourself into the culture of the RPG world.
While most gaming laptops will be suitable for all types of games, there are some specific demands for RPG gamers. For instance, refresh rate is arguably not as important for RPG games compared to faster-paced action games, given that RPG games are generally slower-paced, yet you should be looking at aspects like GPU to experience the visuals of the immersive open worlds.
Some of the things you should be looking for:
GPU/Graphics Card: Something like the NVIDIA RTX 30/40 series or AMD Radeon RX 6000/7000 for top performance.
CPU (Processor): Intel Core i7/i9 (13th/14th Gen) or AMD Ryzen 7/9
RAM: Minimum 16GB, ideally 32GB for demanding RPGs with lots of assets.
Storage: SSD with at least 1TB, preferably 2 TB.
Cooling System: Absolutely essential for long gaming sessions to prevent overheating.
Good Battery Life: Goes without saying, though gaming laptops tend to have shorter battery spans.
Build Quality & Design: A good, solid keyboard with RGB lighting is ideal for RPG aesthetics.
There’s a wide range of gaming laptops out there today, and your choice will depend on the type of games you wish to play, your gaming level, and, of course, your budget. However, we have listed some of the best gaming laptops released in the last few years that are suitable for RPG gamers:
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16
One of our personal favorites, the ROG Strix Scar 16 has exceptional power and performance with a cutting-edge cooling system. It’s a beefy machine with a unique design, but it offers state-of-the-art performance.
Razer Blade 16
Definitely one of the best-performing gaming laptops available today, the Razer Blade 16 isn’t cheap, coming in at around $2500 for the top models. Yet, you are paying for a superb piece of machinery.
Alienware m18 R2
A standout feature of the Alienware m18 R2 is its large screen, making it ideal if you want to really get immersed in an RPG game. It’s a beast of a machine, one of the most powerful ever released by Alienware, making it a good choice for dedicated RPG players.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i
Probably the option on this list that represents the best value. While the Legion Pro 7i isn’t cheap by any means, you get a lot of bang for your buck compared to more expensive models. It has Lenovo’s ColdFront Hyper technology to keep the device cool at all times.
Acer Predator Helios 16
Acer’s Predator Helios 16 is the cheapest model on this list, as you can pick one up for around $1200. When it was released in 2023, it was lauded for its specs and raw power at an attractive price. Acer has released updated models since, but you really can’t go wrong with this one.